Former CIA Chief And Pentagon Describe Attack On Kursk As Kyiv's 'Strategic Fault'

Robert Gates during his visit to Jakarta in 2010. (Wikimedia Commons/Cherie Cullen)

JAKARTA - The Kyiv government's decision to attack Russia's border area, Kursk, has become a "strategic error", said former US Defense Minister and CIA Chief Robert Gates.

"And I'm just going to say this about the attack on Russia, Kursk's attack: my personal view is, it's a strategic mistake," he said at an event at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.

"That means the 30,000 very powerful Ukrainian soldiers that I think should be used to strengthen the front line in Donbass, where they are under great pressure, and Russia is moving forward very slowly, capturing a village at one time," he added.

According to her opinion, Russia was able to continue military operations, especially in Ukraine until it decided its goal was achieved, and underestimated its ability to continue "it was a big mistake."

He also said the West had "deeply underestimated Russia, and it may have something to do with the lack of reading Russian history." It is known that the massive attacks of Ukraine on the Kursk Region began on August 6. The federal-level state of emergency took effect there. Residents of border areas were taken to safety.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Kyiv has lost more than 27,500 troops and 177 tanks since the start of clashes in the Kursk Region.